Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Monday night's "RTÉ Investigates: Living On The List" made for harrowing viewing, as many Deputies have acknowledged. The problems pertaining to the waiting times experienced by those seeking medical or surgical attention are issues we have all been aware of for a long number of years. However, no matter how bad we had thought the situation was before, we now know that the figures presented to us were grossly understated in an attempt to conceal the true scale of the crisis within the system. The NTPF is the body responsible for collecting, collating and validating information on persons waiting for public hospital treatment. The fund has deliberately excluded tens of thousands of people languishing on waiting lists. "RTÉ Investigates: Living On The List" uncovered evidence of at least two other significant waiting lists which are not published by the NTPF. This was a scandalous revelation. The deliberate concealment of figures is testament to a health service in perpetual crisis. It is time for the Government to realise that its so-called strategy to deal with this crisis is not working. What more will it take for the step-change that is so desperately needed to come about within our health service? I dread to think.

Sinn Féin has consistently raised concerns regarding waiting times. We have offered an alternative to the current failed system. The proposed Comhliosta system would constitute a new single integrated hospital waiting list management system whereby people can move from one hospital to another to reduce waiting times. It would involve the introduction of a new information technology system based on the one in use in the Portuguese national health service. The system would generate new maximum waiting times by transferring those on the list from hospitals that are struggling to meet demand to those in a better position to perform the procedure in a more timely fashion. The NTPF lacks transparency and is not accountable. The Comhliosta system would offer a practical solution to address the current mess.

The crux of all the serious issues within our health system is the lack of capacity within the health system to meet demand. Lack of capacity means those in our society who need urgent medical care and attention are left to suffer needlessly while Governments dither and facilitate tax breaks for the better off. An unnecessary tax break is of no use to anyone languishing in pain who has to wait day in and day out for medical or surgical attention. I concur absolutely with the arguments presented in that regard by Deputy Shortall earlier. It is time the Government realised what really matters.

See this speech in context